Moon Township, Pa. – Robert Morris head women's lacrosse coach Courtney Grove announced that Emma Simmers has been named the associate head coach for the Colonials.

"I am so excited to welcome Emma Simmers to the RMU family," Grove said. "Having worked with Emma a number of years I know her talent as both a coach and a Pittsburgh standout player will be invaluable as she molds the Robert Morris defense. I look forward to watching her positively impact another team."

Simmers, a native of Pittsburgh, Pa., joins RMU after spending the last five years as an assistant coach at Seton Hill. In her five seasons in Greensburg, Pa., Simmers helped guide the Griffins to an overall record of 56-25 (.691), including a mark of 41-6 (.872) in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). She helped pace Seton Hill to each of the last three PSAC West Division championships, compiling an overall mark of 42-13 (.764) and a 32-2 (.941) mark in conference action, from 2021 to 2023. The Griffins appeared in two of the last three finals of the PSAC Championship and also earned automatic bids to each of the last four NCAA Division II Tournaments (2019, 2021-23).

"I am very happy for the opportunity to continue my coaching career at RMU," Simmers said. "A massive thank you to Coach Grove and the RMU staff for trusting in my ability to help move the women's lacrosse program forward. I cannot wait to start working with the team and see what we can achieve together."

Under the direction of Simmers as the defensive coordinator and goalie coach, Seton Hill had numerous student-athletes receive PSAC postseason accolades as well as all-conference honors. In 2023, Makayla Kinter was named the PSAC West Defender of the Year for the second consecutive season as she earned the honor in 2022. She was also awarded IWLCA All-American status for the third straight season while being a PSAC West First Team selection in 2023. Along with Kinter, graduate student goalkeeper Kyleigh Hessian was chosen to the PSAC West First Team after ranking fourth in the conference in saves percentage (.471) and goals against average (9.84). Hessian also collected 164 total saves, which ranked sixth in the PSAC.

While at Seton Hill, Simmers worked as a youth and adult program assistant at the Greensburg YMCA. She provided instruction and coaching techniques for a variety of sports while also enforcing discipline on and off the playing field. Prior to her stint at Seton Hill, Simmers worked as the assistant lacrosse coach for Upper St. Clair high school.

Simmers is a 2015 graduate of Seton Hill, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Educational Studies with a concentration in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). She is no stranger to the Griffins lacrosse program as she was one of the most decorated student-athletes to play for Seton Hill. Simmers was a two-time IWLCA All-American as well as a two-time IWLCA First Team All-Region honoree during her junior and senior campaigns. She was awarded All-PSAC West First Team accolades twice while securing All-ECC honors as a sophomore.
 
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT EMMA SIMMERS

Brian Novotny, Head Men's Lacrosse Coach, Seton Hill
"I have known Emma Simmers for over ten years, first as a player, and most recently as a coaching colleague. Coach Simmers has a fierce competitive spirit that fuels her to be her best each and every day. Her student-athletes and her teams on The Hill quickly developed similar competitive characteristics. Coach Simmers is an authentic, loyal, and high character leader. She has left a tremendous impact on the Seton Hill student-athletes, the women's lacrosse program, and the greater Seton Hill University Community. I am confident she will make a similar impact at Robert Morris University."

Brenna Gallagher Roan, Head Women's Lacrosse Coach, IUP
"I have had the pleasure of knowing Emma for many years. She is a wonderful person and an even better coach. She will bring a positive and empowering attitude to the athletes at RMU along with a lot of lacrosse knowledge. I am excited to see Emma do great things during this next chapter of the RMU women's lacrosse program."

Jason Greene, Assistant Athletic Director of Athletic Communication, Seton Hill
"From the day Emma stepped onto the Seton Hill Campus in the Fall of 2010, she has impacted the university and its women's lacrosse program in so many different ways. As a student-athlete, Emma helped lead the program to a new level on and off the field. She was a two-time All-American who took the program to new heights. After her days as a student-athlete, Emma returned to the program as an assistant coach where she continued to lead the program to new levels on and off the field. She was a mentor, coach and friend to her players and helped them to new heights with the team earning PSAC Western Division titles and NCAA Tournament appearances. Robert Morris could not have made a better selection for their associate head coach. Emma is a great coach and a better person. I am sure she will help the Robert Morris program reach new heights in the future."

Brian Kattan, Head Coach Girls Lacrosse, Mt. Lebanon High School
"Coach Simmers is a great choice for RMU, she is not only a great coach but a great person as well. She will be someone that the players will be able to look up to and learn from on and off the field. Coach Simmers always brings a positive attitude to each practice, she makes everyone around her better players and people. I have always enjoyed watching her coach and have learned a lot from seeing her interact with players and coaches. I am very happy for her and can't wait to see the positive impact she has at RMU."
 
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